Lamp mounting



Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STA'IQS PATENT OFFICEv LAMP MOUNTING Henry R. Gross, Chicago, Illf Appiioation November 14, 1947, serial No. 'zsgs's' 9 Claims.

This invention relates toa lamp mounting, and more particularly to the mounting structure for a sealed beam, automobile fog lamp.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, relatively inexpensive, yet rugged mountiiglstructure for a sealed beam lamp unit Wherebythe unitmay be readily mounted in the fender ofb streamlined, present day models of automobiles and yet is so constructed that the sealed beamunitmay be readily removed and replaced.

Sealed beam lamp units are provided with mounting'beads which are not of uniform dimension from lamp to lamp, but vary slightly, and conventional mounting clamps therefore frequently cause breakage of the lamp unit. It is, therefore,v a principal object of the invention to provide amounting structure for a sealed beam lamp' unit" with suiiicient yieldability to accommodate without breakage the different bead thicknesses, and to provide for the application of' equalized stresses to the frangible parts of thelamp unit -due to shock, irregularities of size, temperature changes and whatever cause.

Another, principal object of the invention is to provide a sealed beam mounting structure by means of which the vertical and horizontal positioning of the light beam may be adjusted externally of the lamp unit so that adjustment thereof may be accomplished in a matter of seconds without requiring disassembly or detachment of any portion of the lamp unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide at sealed beam mounting structure wherein the rear annular bead engaging clamp for thelamp unitisprovided with a peripheral attaching portionv` to whichthe front clamp clampingly is securedvand the rear cla-mp and peripheral portion are' so constructed as to be relatively yieldable sotthat. lamp units of diierent bead thicknesses may be accommodated, without breakage, by the front clamping means and the rear clamp.

Other and further objects and advantages of ther invention Will be apparent' from thel following description when taken in connection with the@ accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig; 1 isa view in vertical face elevation of a.- sealed beam mounting unitl embodying thev invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in vertical section taken:V substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig: 3 is afi'agmentary View in. vertical section takenx alongY the;A line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

4 is a view in front elevation of thef n'munting,` unit. of Eig.. 1;A with the sealed beamA 2 andthe front clamping' ring removed, takenls indicated by line if- 4' of'v Fig. 2;

Figi 5' is 1 an lenlarged fragmentary' View inl-ho'iV zontal section taken substantially along thei'liri 5-5 of Fig. 4'.

A preferred embodiment of a lampl mounting u'nity constructed in accordance with the; present invention comprisesY a stamped" sheet metalV exif ternalv housing shell. 2;Y an internal shell A* ade justably securedt`o' and resiliently` mounted in the Housing 2f and an externalf clampingk 'ring-` 8 cooperating withA the internal shell `li resilientl'y secure the sealed` b'eamfunity 8l iny xed position" in thesh'el-l" 4';

The sheet metal housingi 2v` is' stamped tof forni av dish-shaped central portion Iii merging into aV rearfradial' flange'4 i2 ini turn merging' intol a' forward-1y extending" longitudinally diecteri ange reconnecting v the rear radial flange' I a forward, radiarfiange is? pim/idea with s v able T13eitiires' |28 t0"y re'cv' mounting s c'iWS;J bolts:oro'ther`v fasteners by means of which thef housing" shell-f 2iA is i'i'ed t'o the auto" ieriti'ei"Y or fender bracket Y 'fheange I6 is providedy with? al rearwardly rolledl edgeorV flange portion i0 f for strengthening purposes and to facilitate theM17 mounting of the" housing shell in they opening" ofA the fender or fender bracket. u

` Theinner' sheetme'tal shell4 lis stamped the form ofl a ring' orv drum 2`2 having an" inl.- v'vardly turned or rolled edge 24 strengthening" the` ri'ng or drum iiangegZZ and providing an open back to the'shell 4L The ring or drum iiange 22 merges' into an annular forward radial abutment flange- 26J forming a. rear clamping` ring" surface for' th'esealedl beam lamp unit 8.

Said abutment' flange, turn, terminates at its outer annular edge-into an l.oiiset outer sup"- port nange 28. The a'n'ge 28' is made yieldable" in, respect' tothe support flange 26 to accommof date lamp units of diierent bead thicknesses and" tocompensatefor irregularitiesy of size andshape in the parts by providingv a plurality ofearcuate slits23 atthe ji-inction-` of the flange 26 withthe fiange 28.` These flanges; will therefore yieldiin-a genera-l directionaxially ofv theT lampunitf tolaccommodateflamp beads of greater than nor-f mal;r thicknesses and` to preclude` irregular and concentratedstressesbeing-z impressed upon thebezelf whileyeti firmly in. cooperation with ther clamping ringiVsecure thelamp unit. rIhe for-f' wardolange-Zffmergeszinto arearwardly offset: radialflange 28- Y Whichff forms1T a;r mounting flange forithefshellf'lt andfsnuglyointerts withithe Shel! 2 and also an attachment ange for mounting the forward clamping ring 6.

The internal'shell 4 is supported on and secured to the lateral arms 30 of sheet metal brackets or nut structures 32 and 34, as by screws 38 received in suitable unthreaded openings in the flange 28 of the shell 4 and in complementary threaded openings in one of the lateral arms 38 of each of the nut structures 32 and 34. The nut structures 32 and 34 are preferably formed to provide axially spaced nut sections 38 and 40 joined by resilient looped portions 42 by compression of which the threaded sections 38 and 40 may be axially displaced after threading so that the nut sections exert a frictional locking action against inadvertent turning of an adjusting screw 44 or 46 threaded into the nut structure.

The adjusting screws 44 and 46 are mounted on or secured to the rear radial flange l2 of the external housing shell 2in angularly spaced relationship of approximately 90 degrees so that the bracket or nut structures 32 and 34 form, in effect, only a partial or floating mount for the internal shell 4.

The adjusting screws 44 and 46 are each mounted on a plate or strap 48, Fig. 5, fastened as by rivets 50 to the shell 2. Each adjusting screw is formed at its inner end with a reduced portion 52 loosely received in an opening in the strap 48 and an enlarged end portion 54 which retains the adjusting screw against axial movement relative to the strap 48. Each screw is journaled on a roller 56 housed in a depression 58 in the flange I2 of the housing shell 2. Each adjusting screw is assembled with its strap 48 prior to the riveting of the strap to the housing shell and for that purpose the opening in the strap to receive the screw is preferably made in the form of a key slot, one end of which is larger than the end portion 54 of the screw to permit introduction of the screw into the slot. Removal of the screw out of such slot after the strap 48 has been riveted to the housing shell is prevented by the engagement of the end portion 54 of the screw with the inner wall surface of the depression 58 in the housing shell. The inner shell 22 is resiliently mounted or floated by means of three coil springs'll, each secured at one end to a clip or lug 52 fastened to the dish-shaped section IIJ of the external housing shell. end 64 of each spring 80 is received in spaced openings of the drum flange 22 of the inner shell 4 as illustrated in Fig. 2. It should be noted that the internal shell 4 is provided with an opening 65 substantially diametrically opposite to the adjusting screw 44 and extending partially across the flange 26 and inwardly partially along the drum flange 22 to receive the conventional locating lug 61 of the lamp unit 8.

The sealed beam lamp unit 8 is of conventional structure having a central, enlarged rim portion or bead 66 and a rear radial flange portion or surface 68 which bears against the forward surface of the radial ring portion 26 of the internal shell 4. The bead or flange 66 constitutes a mounting flange and the forward clamping ring 6 is formed with a longitudinal or drum flange l0, a rear outwardly extending radial flange 'l2 and a forward rolled edge 'I4 which forms a ring clamping flange engaging the forward surface of the mounting bead or flange 66 of the sealed beam lamp unit. The rear radial flange 12 is provided with a pair of openings 16 to permit passage of the adjusting screws therethrough, and a plurality of openings receiving screws 18 threaded linto The opposite hook shaped complementary openings in the offset radial flange 28 of the internal shell 4.

It should be noted that the threaded openings gir. tie flange 28 for receiving the screws 18 are loomed in the regions of the arcuate slits 23 so that when the screws 18 are threaded into the openings to tighten the ring 6 the flange 28 may in these regions yield as a further accommodation for different thicknesses of bead 65. These arcuate slits, in accordance with the invention set forth, are preferably cut simultaneously with shaping of the shell 22 so that the shaping of the part and the formation of the resilient holding surfaces are provided in a single forming operation.

Forwardly extending offset portions or depressions 33, Figs. l. and 5, permit the flange 'l2 of the clamping ring 8 to be secured in flush relation with the oifset radial flange 28 of the inner shell notwithstanding the projection of the heads of the screws 36.

lit should be noted that the adjusting screws project forwardly from the radial flange of the clamping ring 6 in close juxtaposition to the drum flange ifi of the ring 6 and project beyond the plane of the forward edge of the ring so that the slotted ends of a screw driver for adjusting the af ting screws without interference from, or of the clamp ring.

The lamp unit 8 is preferably of the two-wire type, one o the wires 82 being secured at one end to thD terminal clip 84, and the other wire being connected to the corresponding other. terminal clip of the lamp unit. One of the wires, as for example the wire 82, extends from the terminal clip @Il into the usual insulating sleeve or tube S5 which projects into the housing 2 through a suitable opening in the dish-shapedsection 6. rlhe other wire extends from a second terminal clip, similar to the clip 84, to a pin or rivet 8i which grounds the wire to the shell 2. The springs 88 resiliently pull or urge the inner shell 4 inwardly of the external shell or housing 2 and cause a portion or all of the circumferential area 0f the rolled rim 24 of theA inner shell to rest upon or float in the dishshaped section i8 of the external housing shell, depending upon the adjustment of the screws 44 and 46.

It will be evident that adjustment of the screw (i6 in a direction to move the nut structure or bracket forwardly lowers the beam by causing the inner shell to roll at its rear rolled edge 24 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2, while adjustment of the screw in the opposite direction to cause an inward movement of the nut or bracket 34 raises the beam by rotating the lamp unit 8 in a clockwise direction.

imilarly, it will be evident that adjustment of the screw in a direction to cause outward movement of the nut structure or bracket 32 swings the beam to the right, causing rotation of the shell 4 within the shell lil by rotating the lamp unit 8 about a substantially vertical axis. Similarly, it will be evident that adjustment of screw 4,4 in the opposite direction to move'the bracket and nut structure 32 inwardly will move the beam to the left.

It should be noted that by reason of this construction the sealed beam lamp unit 8 may readily be removed by simply first removing the attaching screws 'I8 by which the forward lamp clamping ring 6 is secured to the radial flange 28 of the inner shell 4 and then, after'pulling of the lamp out of the inner shell, detaching ases-,sav

supply.' wires 625 and;` 831 from the terminal strips; replacement unitl isi readily.v inserted by first connectingy the wires B2i and 862 to the terminal strips 815i of the replacement uni then inserting` the sealed beam lamp* uni' the `inner, shell lf and?. securing the front forward' clamping ring. to. thev inner: shell. by insertion of 'they attachingz screws: i131 Itisl'iould be specirjcally noted'y that struca ture permits removal re; are -fnt of' sealedbeamI unitl without cli mgt. Which-i isz determined solely by positiimfof the4 inner: shell?l i with respect to.` the axes of the outer shell. It should!alsobe-speciflcally notedl that this structure permits ready adjustment of the height and. lateral position of the light beam Wi'tiflout the removalof any part of the lamp mounting structure and from a position outside the fender in which the whole structure may be mounted It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided a simple, relatively i'nexpensive;` yetrugged structure for a2 sealed beam-.lamp unitwliorebyf the unitfA r belreadily; mounted i-nthe fender' of streamlined presenti` dayinode-els of andA yet is so constructed that the sealed* beam'. unit may be readily.: removed.- and replaced'.

If have: alsoprovided a-sealedffbeam mounting structure by means of which the vertical and horizontal positioning of the light beam `may be adjusted externally of the lamp unit so that adjustment thereof may be accomplished in a matter of seconds without requiring disassembly or detachment of any portion of the lamp unit.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lamp structure for mounting a sealed beam lamp unit having an annular mounting bead, a sheet metal shell having an annular body portion for receiving the body of the lamp unit and a radial clamping flange to engage the rear surface of the mounting bead of the lamp unit, a clamping ring having a rear radial flange, and cooperable fastening means for securing the radial flange of the clamping ring to the radial clamping flange of the sheet metal shell, said fastening means including a yieldable section of the radial clamping flange of the sheet metal shell partially separated from the rest of the sheet metal by slots cut in said flange to promote yieldability, said clamping ring being provided with an annular flange extending forwardly therefrom to encompass the mounting bead of the lamp unit, and an inturned flange at the forward end thereof to engage the forward surface of the mounting bead of the lamp unit.

2. In a lamp structure for mounting a sealed beam lamp unit having an annular mounting bead, a sheet metal shell having an annular body portion for receiving the body of the lamp unit and a radial clamping flange to engage the rear surface of the mounting bead of the lamp unit, a clamping ring having a rear radial flange, and vcoopcrable fastening means for securing the radial flange of the clamping ring to the radial clamping flange of' the sheet metal shell, said fastening means including a yi'elolablesection on' oneof-f sail-d flanges made yieldableby slot'scutinl saidiange, said clamping ring being provided with anannu'- lar flange extending forwardly therefrom 'to encompass the mounting bead ofthe-lampunit; and an inturned flange at the forward? endE thereof? to' engagethe forward surface of the mounting beadoflthe lamp unit.

3. In a lamp structure for mounting a Sealed beam lamp unit having an` annular mounting? bead, a sheet metal shell having an annularbotfy portionl for receiving the body of thel'amp unit and ai rear radial flange, said flange' compri'slrigi aninner section engaged bythe rea'r surface" of? the mounting bead of the lamp unit-andi an outer support section, arcuate slots formed" inA sail' flange between said sections providing resiliency therebetween, and a clamping ring havingcrear radialflange secured to'Y the outer section of'r the radial' flange of the sheet metal shell, said clam-p2-` ing ring being provided with" anL annular flange extending forwardly to-encompass the mcmnti'rig'; beadl of the lamp unit, and an inturne'd` flange"V at the forward end thereof` to engage the'-forward? surface of the mounting bead ofsaid'lamprunit 1 4. Inf alamp structure for mounting a= seal'ef beam lamp unit having anA annular mounting bead, a sheet; metal shell having an; annular body portion for receiving the body of the' lampunit" tween said sections, and a clamping ring having a rear radial flange secured to the outer section of the radial flange of the sheet metal shell, said clamping ring being provided with an annular flange extending forwardly to encompass the mounting bead of the lamp unit, and an inturned flange at the forward end thereof to engage the forward surface of the mounting bead of said lamp unit.

5. The method of making a sheet metal support shell for a sealed beam lamp unit which comprises forming an annular body portion on said shell for receiving the body of the lamp unit, forming an inner abutment flange on said shell for engaging and positioning the lamp unit, forming an offset support flange on said shell outwardly of the abutment flange, and forming a, plurality of spaced arcuate slots between the abutment flange and the support flange, said several forming actions being effected by a single forming operation.

6. In a lamp structure, a cup-shaped mounting shell for receiving the body portion of a sealed beam lamp unit, said shell having a first annular flange portion for clamping engagement with the rear flange of the bead of such lamp unit, a second annular flange portion integrally joined to the rst flange portion at spaced intervals but extending radially therebeyond, said outer annular flange portion having portions yieldable re1- ative to said inner flange portion to permit said flange portions to yield relative to one another, and a clamping ring for engaging the forward flange of the bead of such lamp unit, said clamping ring having a rear annular flange for abutting engagement with the outer annular flange portion of the mounting shell, and means for securing the rear ange of the clamping ring to the outer annular iiange portion of the mounting shell in the region of greatest relative yieldability.

7. In a lamp structure, a mounting shell, a second shell adapted to receive the lamp unit, a lamp unit having a frangible rim, resilient means securing the second shell to the mounting shell and forming a oating mount for the second shell, rotary adjusting means carried by one of the shells bearing on a spherical bearing member and abutting the other shell to adjust the second shell angularly relatively to the mounting shell to swing the beam from the lamp unit up and down and from right to left and means yieldably clamping the rim of the lamp unit to said second shell.

8. In a lamp structure, an outer mounting shell, an inner shell detachably receiving a sealed beam lamp unit, adjusting screws secured in angularly spaced relation to the outer shell abutting a spherical bearing member and passing through and beyond the inner shell in laterally spaced relation to a lamp unit mounted in the inner shell,

a nut on each of said screws and abutting the inner shell, springs each secured at one end to the inner surface of the outer shell and at its other end to the inner shell to urge the shells toward each other in relative angular position as determined by the rotational adjustment of said screws.

9. In a lamp structure, the combination of a housing, a lamp unit having a peripheral ange, means for resiliently mounting said lamp unit relatively to said housing including a shell havingan annular abutment against which said lamp unit is clampingly supported and having an outstanding annular flange and turnable adjusting posts turnably mounted on said housing abutting a spherical bearing member secured in said housing and threadedly engaging said flange for tilting said lamp unit with respect to said housing, the forward ends of said posts extending outwardly exteriorly of said lamp unit and adjacent the periphery thereof.

HENRY R. GROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,067,722 Mead et al Jan. l2, 1937 2,159,871 Worden et al. May 23, 1939 2,219,143 W'haram Oct. 22, 1940 2,246,808 McKechnie June 24. 1941 2,266,329 Mead et al Dec. 16, 1941 2,293,222 Sheldrick et al Aug. 18, 1942 2,304,311 Luce Dec. 8, 1942 

